Barely a day after his appointment as the new Zimbabwe national team substantive coach, German tactician Michael Nees is already facing scrutiny from a section of the Warriors fans.
Concerns have been raised about the 57-year-old regarding his achievements and ‘experience’ with African football.
Nees was appointed on Tuesday after the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) took to its social media platforms to announce his arrival.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association is delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Nees as the new head coach of the Zimbabwe Men’s National Team,” ZIFA announced on Facebook.
Consequently, fans began to comment: “I think they employed him (Nees) because he has no significant track record. In under one year, he will be sacked, and back to our interim gaffers.
“ZIFA is not ambitious enough, we are playing to fulfill fixtures,” wrote Nyashadzashe Maramwidze.
Sharing the same sentiments, Blessed Charles Ncube also wrote on the same platform: “At least they (ZIFA) now have a coach, even if he is not known. Did he (Nees) win anything before? But half (a loaf of) bread is better than nothing.”
Furthermore, Noel Farai Chikosha said: “CV rake rakadhakwa (His (Nees)’s CV is not impressive).”
However, popular Warriors’ fan Chris ‘Romario’ Musekiwa believes Nees has what it takes to lead the national team.
He indicated that the “ZIFA Technical Director Chemi Hunidzarira is the best qualified to scrutinize the coach’s CV.
“Hunidzarira and the entire interviewing panel were impressed,” said Musekiwa.
He reiterated that: “The late former Warriors coach Reinhard Fabisch didn’t have an impressive CV when he got the job to coach the under 23 at 1991 All Africa games and later got the Warriors hot seat and did exceptionally well.”
He added: “This fellow German coach has also showed utmost dedication and passion for the job and the desire to succeed with the Warriors.
“The fact that he has vast knowledge about a galaxy of stars at Warriors disposal to him, its a big opportunity to do well and leave a mark here.
“All I can say is lets the coach and his assistants do their job independently without any influence from anyone with the entire football stakeholders rallying behind him and ZIFA NC creating a conducive working environment for him.
“Fabisch did wonders working with local assistant coaches Sunday Mhofu Chidzambwa and Roy Baretto, I tip coach Michael (Nees) to take the Warriors to the promised land.”
Nees is a holder of a UEFA Pro Licence from Germany and an M.A. degree in Sports Science, Performance. Physiology, and Ethnology from the prestigious University of Heidelberg.
He has a coaching qualification in “Life Kinetik,” a unique training methodology introduced to football by former Liverpool FC manager Jurgen Klopp.
Serving as the Rwanda senior national team head coach is listed as part of his coaching experience.
In 2005 and 2006, he was part of the support staff for the England National Team during the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany, under the auspices of FIFA.
He once worked as the Director of Coaching and Education at the South African Football Association (SAFA).
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